[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Lisa Moore
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Memorial Day is a day to honor the brave men and women who answered the call to service for our country, a day to remember those that sacrificed their lives in the call of duty and those veterans who have passed away this year. On this solemn day under leaden skies, the citizens of Wellesley came out to pay tribute to the town members that gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our country, from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
Honored dignitaries like Peter Jones, a decorated veteran, active community member and member of the American Legion, spoke to the assembled group about the qualities shared by those that serve. “The honored service men and women all share these qualities, courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity, all qualities needed to serve a cause greater than themselves.” He spoke about how those brave men and women “rose to a nation’s call that has given us so much. Today we honor and pay gratitude to those that serve this country.”
U.S Army reserve veteran Lorelei King gave a memorial reading of “Please Remember Me” by John Dirusso, a World War II U.S. Air Force combat veteran. The piece calls on Americans to remember those lost in war at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, France, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Ploesti Oil Fields, Pork Chop Hill, Vietnam and Desert Storm, ending with “I’ll never forget my America… I pray she remembers me.” This is the reason each year we gather at Memorial Day ceremonies around the country - to remember those who came before us, those who answered the call to serve and help protect this great nation.
In addition to remembering those that have passed, time was taken to recognize two local youths who represent the future. Board of Selectman member David Murphy was on hand to present the War Memorial Scholarship to two Wellesley students with family members that served our country. The scholarship, given to Michael Calderone and Christina Luby, is intended to assist the two recipients in their further academic studies.
The Wellesley High School Band provided a musical backdrop during the ceremony with selections like America the Beautiful and the National Anthem. Closing the ceremony, two members of the trumpet section played a stirring rendition of “Taps,” one an echo of the other, followed by a “Salute to the Dead” by the Wellesley Police Department.
